Councils U-turn needed

THERE is hardly a high street in the land that isn't on its knees because shoppers are being driven away by sky high parking charges. Motorists pay councils an astonishing £594million a year for the "privilege" of leaving their cars while they spend their money locally.

That figure is up five per cent year on year, while spending on road safety is down almost 20 per cent in three years.

Motorists payed £594million last year from fines [GETTY]

Instead of treating drivers as cash cows councils should be made to see them as a wealth creating asset. But with 85 per cent of councils making a profit from parking it has become an easy source of income that disguises their waste and incompetence.